Asif Kapadia’s documentary on the life of Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna is one of the most riveting stories in recent memory. Passionate and innately gifted in how he could control the car, Senna was one of the boldest and most exciting race car champions. He was also the last Formula One driver to be killed on the track.
Comprised of archival news, television and home movie footage, the film primarily focuses on his Formula One career, which could not have had a more fantastical script. The young and gifted Senna, his rivalry with French champion Alain Prost, love interests, highs and lows, battles with FISA and his tragic ending. An upper-class boy from Brazil, Senna raced go-carts as a youth, which he described as “real racing” – without the politics, sponsorship, money or technological problems. As the documentary flows, the viewer sees the frustration Senna went through after he entered the drama that is Formula One.
Senna was a complex but instantly likable character who strived for perfection in his craft. Religion guided but never overtook him (as is claimed by his rivals) and he always placed importance on his past. While many at the time shunned their Brazilian heritage, Ayrton Senna embraced it. His thoughtful stance on life and his supreme talent behind the wheel meant he was not only an inspiration to Formula One fans but to the entire country of Brazil.
While the rivalry between Senna and Alain Prost is the central motor of the film, the film never vilifies Prost but instead shows his ability to play the political game. It is easy to dislike the man but he merely exploited what was already there. Prost was just as crafty behind the wheel and his understanding of the world of Formula One allowed him to win several World Championships. Indeed, by the end of the documentary, we see that Prost was a pallbearer at Senna’s funeral. The real villain is instead found FISA President Jean-Marie Balestre, whose own words and actions in the footage are more swaying than any interview could be.
This is the real success of the documentary: the tremendous amount of footage (including drivers’ briefings, home movies and driver cameras) dictates the pace and narrative of the documentary, rather than its director. Narration to the movie comes from modern day vox pops, rolled together with interviews at the time from the other drivers; Senna himself narrates much of the movie.
The heart of the film is about the inherent danger these racers face every time they drive, ultimately leading to Senna’s tragic death. The competitive nature of the sport is influenced by the politics and technology of the cars. Senna disliked that a car could take over the difficulties of controlling the turns but was always concerned with driver safety. When FISA ordered the removal of computer assistance in the cars in 1993, the cars became more volatile and uncontrollable. After the death of a fellow driver the day before, Senna righteously and naively decided to race in his poorly modified Williams and paid the ultimate price.
Senna follows a gifted man that was inspirational to his country of Brazil and his sport. The amount of unseen archival footage alone makes the film an incredible experience but Asif Kapadia’s deft touch and the engaging narrative make Senna a must-see documentary.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Senna screens again at the Bigpond Adelaide Film Festival at 1:30pm on 6th March.
Best documentary ever!
Even if you are not a F1 fan…